Africa: ‘Proud Moment for All Africa’ – South Africa’s Gayton Mckenzie Celebrates Kirsty Coventry’s On Historic IOC Presidency

Minister of Sport, Arts and Tradition, Gayton McKenzie has expressed ‘pleasure and anticipation’ after Zimbabwe’s Minister of Sports activities, Artwork and Recreation, swimming sensation Kirsty Coventry has grow to be the primary lady and African to be elected president of the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC).

At 41, the two-time Olympic swimming champion can also be the youngest ever elected to be probably the most highly effective particular person in sports activities governance. She’s going to start her eight-year time period in control of the IOC in June.

IOL has beforehand reported that moments after Coventry was elected the tenth president of the IOC, she informed the viewers on the 144th IOC Session in Costa Navarino, Greece, on Thursday: “I hope that this vote might be an inspiration to many individuals. Immediately glass ceilings had been shattered, and I’m absolutely conscious of my duties as a job mannequin.”

In South Africa, McKenzie mentioned Coventry’s ascension to world sports activities’ high job indicators a welcome step ahead within the international dynamics of sport administration.

“We should pay tribute to the work of the outgoing president of the IOC, Dr Thomas Bach, who obtained us so warmly and respectfully as a member nation at Olympic Home, after paying an official go to to South Africa final yr,” mentioned McKenzie.

“To know that the reins are being handed to a person as achieved and outspoken as Kirsty Coventry fills us with hope for the way forward for world sport, and Africa and the International South’s place in it.”

McKenzie additionally spoke glowingly of Coventry’s achievements.

“She was already probably the most embellished Olympian in African historical past, with seven medals, together with two golds.

“She has now reached the best of pinnacles in all of sport,” added Minister McKenzie, paying tribute to the sturdy help Coventry was given by IOC members, profitable the election on the primary poll, with 49 votes.

“This achievement is a proud second for all of Africa. I look ahead to partaking the president-elect personally in days to return, and to precise my help for all of the laborious work that we all know nonetheless lies forward.”

Spokesperson for the Division of Sport, Arts and Tradition, Stacey-Lee Khojane mentioned since turning into minister in 2024, McKenzie has used the platform tirelessly to argue the case for the top of what he has termed “sports activities apartheid”, the place a number of the world’s premier sporting tournaments by no means see expression by way of internet hosting in Africa.

“Whereas quite a few nations have hosted a number of Olympic Video games, your entire continent of Africa has by no means hosted one,” mentioned Khojane.

“In a transfer in direction of altering this imbalance, South Africa lodged an Expression of Curiosity to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Video games with the IOC in Switzerland in November of 2024, in a ministerial delegation that included the South African Sports activities Confederation and Olympic Committee, with the help of IOC Member in South Africa, Anant Singh, and IOC Honorary Member Sam Ramsamy.”

IOL reported final week that Coventry’s election to international sports activities’ strongest place marks a major development in breaking glass ceilings which have traditionally sidelined ladies from management roles in sports activities. Her triumph stands as a beacon of hope for underrepresented voices in a discipline historically dominated by males.

In her acceptance speech, Coventry mentioned: “That is a unprecedented second. As a nine-year-old woman, I by no means thought I might be standing up right here in the future, getting to present again to this unimaginable motion of ours.

“This isn’t simply an enormous honour however is a reminder of my dedication to each single one in all you that I’ll lead this organisation with a lot delight, with the values on the core. And I’ll make all of you very, very proud, and hopefully extraordinarily assured within the choice that you’ve got taken in the present day. Now we have got some work collectively.”